By Sunil Sonker
Mussoorie, 7 May: Former Municipal Chairman OP Uniyal has raised serious questions regarding the dilapidated condition of the roads in the tourist city of Mussoorie. Citing the poor state of Mall Road and Motilal Nehru Marg, he has accused departmental officials of negligence and corruption, demanding a high-level inquiry into the matter.
Speaking to reporters, OP Uniyal stated that, thanks to the efforts of the Uttarakhand government and Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi, the beautification and asphalt-laying work on Mall Road was carried out at a cost of approximately Rs 9 crore. 
However, due to the negligence of departmental engineers, the condition of Mall Road has once again deteriorated significantly. He noted that as soon as the monsoon season begins, waterlogging occurs at several spots along the nearly two-kilometre-long Mall Road, making it difficult even to walk. The drains running along the roadside are choked with debris and filth; moreover, due to the lack of a proper drainage system, residents are forced to contend with foul odour and unsanitary conditions.
Raising questions regarding the state of Motilal Nehru Marg as well, OP Uniyal remarked that the quality of the asphalt-laying work—executed at a cost of approximately Rs 3 crore—was so poor that the road began to crumble in various places within just six months. Taking a sarcastic dig, he quipped that it has now become difficult to discern whether “there are potholes in the road, or a road within the potholes”. He alleged that officials within the Public Works Department (PWD) are complicit in corruption and that, despite numerous complaints, no action has been taken. He further asserted that these substandard construction works are tarnishing the image of both the government and the elected representatives. The former Municipal Chairman has urged Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and the District Magistrate of Dehradun to order a high-level inquiry into the construction works undertaken on Mall Road and Motilal Nehru Marg, to take strict action against the officials found guilty, and to ensure the recovery of the misappropriated public funds.
